Broadway's Kinky Boots to Get New Drag Heroine

If anyone deserves a break, it's Billy Porter.

Porter stars in Broadway's Kinky Boots as Lola, a drag queen who saves a shoe factory on the verge of bankruptcy. The out actor, who earned a Tony Award for his performance, has played Lola since the musical's 2012 pre-Broadway premiere in Chicago.

Producers recently announced that Porter, who has extended his contract with Kinky Boots through January 2016, will take a leave of absence January 27 through April 26. Porter will also join the national tour of Kinky Boots when it plays his hometown of Pittsburgh, August 4-9.

"Lola is literally my dream role, and I'm still loving every minute of it," says Porter in a statement. "But I'm going to take a few months at the beginning of the year to do concerts, some directing, and other things. Then I'll be back at the end of April, and am excited to say that I get to strut my stuff in this glorious show until January 2016."

Kyle Taylor Parker, who plays Lola on tour, will take over for Porter during his absences. Parker made his Broadway debut as a drag "Angel" in the original company of Kinky Boots.

Written by Harvey Fierstein with songs by Cyndi Lauper, Broadway's empowering musical, which is based on the 2005 movie of the same name, won a total of six Tonys, including Best Musical, Best Choreography for Jerry Mitchell, and Best Score for Lauper.

Lauper will join Porter January 28 at Lincoln Center for his two American Songbook concerts, which will be filmed for Live From Lincoln Center on PBS.